Box wrapping machine



p 1931- H. J. MELVILLE 1,822,054

BOX WRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 26, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l w N w Linc (27a 60/,

Sept. 8, 1931- H. J. MELVILLE 1,822,054

BOX WRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 26, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 .fngeuag SePt? 3, 1931- H. J. MELVILLE I 1,822,054

BOX WRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 26, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 8, 1931. H. J. MELVILLE BOX WRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 26, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 QWF in 06S:

Patented Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HERBERT J. MELVILLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORTO WM. WRIGLEY, JR. COM- PANY, OF'CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE BOX WRAPPING MACHINE Application filed. May 26,

This invention relates to improvements in box wrapping machines and more particularly to machines which apply an outer covering or surface coating of paper to boxes and covers.

It may be stated at the outset that themvention is directed to improved mechanism for accomplishing automatically one of the important steps in the coating operatlon, and which in machines now in general use are done by hand, thereby increasing the rate of production and eliminating the uncertamty attending manual operation.

A more definite understanding of the scope of the invention may be had from the following brief explanation of the operation of the machine now generally used for this work and the departure made possible by the improvement. L

The wrapping operation herein referred to is that of applying a wrapper of glazed and/or printed paper to an open card or paper-board box, and the standard machine for performing this operation consists in general of a conveyor belt on which the cover sheets are successively deposited, having their upwardly facing surfaces previously covered with adhesive. As the belt reaches the end of its travel, an operator centers a box upon each sheet, and as a part of the same operationtransfers the same with the sheet adhering to its bottom into the path of a vertically reciprocating plunger which carries the box downwardly into the path of a series of wipers which act to wipe the marginal portions against the sides and ends over the edges and against the inside of the box. Thus it will be seen that between the feeding of the sheets to the machine and the actual step of applying the sheets over the surfaces of the boxes there is a manual operation and therefore the efliciency of the machine is largely dependent upon the speed and skill of the operator in centering the boxes on the sheets and transferring them from the feed belt to the applying mechanism.

, It is, therefore, the object of the invention to replace the manual operation of transferring the assembled boxes and sheets from the feed belt to the sheet applying mechanism 1930. Serial No. 455,621.

by automatic transfer mechanism-thus mak which may be considered as common to machines now in use.

Referring, therefore, to the accompanying drawings,

Figure I is a top plan view of the improved transfer mechanism and adjacent portions of a box coating machine;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the transfer mechanism and adjacent parts as taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure?) is a perspective View of the transfer mechanism and an assembled box about to be transferred;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view in vertical section taken on line H of Figure 1, shkpwing the transfer carriage about to engage a ox;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing the same parts at the completion 'of the transfer movement; and

Figure 6 is a detail view in'vertical section taken on line 66 of F igure5.: I

Considering first themachine as a whole, the essential parts are the feed belt 1, and the coating applying -mechanism including vertically reciprocating plunger assembly 2 located on one (left) side of the feed belt near its discharge end. The feed belt is an endless web having a travel of, say, 15 or 20 feet in a horizontal direction at table height, being supported at either end on pulleys such as 3, the upper lead being the active portion of the belt movin continuously toward its discharge end. The belt is erforated, and between the two leads is a shallow box or duct 4 having its top wall 4a perforated, and its interior otherwise sealed is connected with a suitable exhausting apparatus for maintain ing an internal pressure of less than atmospheric pressure. The duct extends substantially throughout the length of the belt, with its perforated top wall section terminating just short of its discharge end. The upper lead of the belt travels in contact with the perforated top wall of the duct, and the suction acts to hold the covering sheets in contact with the belt until released, as they are carried beyond the perforated area of the top wall, and are free to be removed or transferred therefrom.

As shown in Figure 3, the boxes A to be covered are rectangular and relatively shallow and made of any suitable stock. The wrapping sheets B of suitable paper stock are cut to the size of the boxes, having a central panel of the same dimensions as the bottom of the box and marginal flaps b formed by cutting right angle sections from the corners. These flaps are slightly wider than the upright walls of the box A and eventually are folded against the sides and end walls thereof, with the excess width carried over the edges of these walls and downwardly against their inner surfaces. These sheets B are fed onto the belt 1 at the head end thereof, having previously had their upper surfaces coated with glue.

As the coverings are advanced in regular and spaced order, the operator places or spots a box A centrally of each cover, so that they reach the end of their travel in the partially assembled condition shown in F ig ure 3, namely, with the flaps 6 extending outwardly and fiat upon the belt.

Now the transfer mechanism, is located above the discharge end of the belt, and opposite the vertical plunger assembly 2, and consists in general of a reciprocating carriage equipped with grippers, whereby each box on reaching a position in front of the retracted carriage ispicked up with its cover sheet adhering to its bottom and quickly transported laterally into the path of the plunger head 5 secured to the lower end of a plunger rod 5a which at that instant is descending, whereupon the box is stripped from the carriage and the latter returns to its starting position for the next box, and so on.

For the reasons already stated, it is not necessary to go into detail as to the manner in which the cover sheets are folded and applied to the boxes after they are deposited in the path of the descending plunger head 5. Suffice it to say that the plunger enters the box and carries it downwardly into contact with rows of brush-like wipers 6, which fold and smoothly apply the glued surfaces of the flaps 6 against the sides and ends of the box walls.' When the plunger reaches the lower end of its stroke, the same or other sets of wipers operate to fold the margins of the flaps over and inside the box walls,

whereupon the plunger moves upwardly carrying the completed box which is then removed by a cam actuated stripper 7 having fingers 7a projecting through openings in the plunger head 5, whereupon it is removed from the machine.

The moving parts of the transfer mechanism are supported upon a frame consisting of a bar 8 rigidly secured to the main frame of the machine, and extending transversely just above the end portion of the feed belt. Supported by this bar is a track for a reciprocating transfer carriage, consisting of a pair of parallel round rods 9, 9 secured at their ends in brackets l0, 10 extending forwardly and laterally from the bar 9. The tracks extend from a point adjacent the path of the plunger head 5 and above the near edge of the belt 1 to a point considerably beyond the opposite edge and has a substantially downward inclination from its forward or inner end toward its outer end. Thus the boxes are lifted from the belt and carried laterally and upwardly into the path of the plunger head.

Now, the transfer carriage is secured to the under side of a cross head 11, slidably mounted on the tracks 9, 9 and comprises parts as follows: A fiat U-shaped bracket 12 is secured flatwise to the under side of the cross head with its central portion extending transversely of the tracks and its end portions 12a lying beyond and projecting forwardly and parallel with said tracks. These end portions or arms 12a are bent to incline downwardly toward the belt surface with their extremities bent downwardly at right angles thereto. Secured to the ends of the arms 12a, 12a is a narrow metal strip 13 providing a pusher bar of substantially the length and height of the boxes A, and having extended end portions 13a, 13a bent forwardly at an angle of about which act to dispose the boxes centrally of the pusher bar, should the be slightly out of alignment with the pat 1 of the advancing carriage.

Projecting from the rear edge of the bracket 12 is an extension 14 lying beneath one of the track rods 9 (on the near side in Figure 3) .and extending parallel with it. The extremity of this extension is secured to a sliding collar 14a mounted on the rod some distance from the cross-head. In this manner the carriage has a three point bearing on the track rods and prevents the cross-head from binding.

Extending laterally from the U-shaped bracket and on the side opposite the bearing extension 14 is another and somewhat shorter arm or extension 15 offset slightly below the main body of the bracket.

Now, bearing upon this extended arm 15 is a fiat plate 16 having its inner end mitered to bear flush against the mitered corner edge of the main portion of the bracket as shown at 17. (Figures 3 and 6). This plate 16 is pivotally connected to the arm of the bracket by a pivot pin 18 located near the outer end of the arm, and just inwardly from the pivot pin 18 is another pin 19 anchored in said arm 15, and riding in a curvilinear transverse slot 16a in the plate 16.

The outer end of the plate 16 which forms a pivoted extension of the bracket 12 is connected to a sprocket chain 20 extending parallel with the tracks 9, 9 just beyond the path of the carriage and to rear thereof as shown in Figure 3. This sprocket chain is carried on sprockets 21 and 22 journalled on stub shafts 21a, 22a respectively, mounted on the frame member 8 and projecting from the front vertical face thereof (Figures 1 and 2).. The sprocket wheel 21 adjacent the covering sheet applying mechanism is the driven sprocket as Wlll be presently seen, and is slightly larger in diameter than the idler sprocket 22. Moreover, the axis of the driven sprocket is slightly higher than that of the idler sprocket so that the lower lead of the chain is inclined at the same angle as the tracks 9, 9, as shown in Figure -2.

For the present it may be assumed thatthe driven sprocket 21 is rotated in alternately opposite directions, and through an arc of travel such that a reciprocating movement is imparted to the transfer carriage through its connection'with the chain 20' by a bolt 23 passing through one of the links of the chain and through the downwardly ofi'set end of the intermediate connecting plate 16 (Figure 6). The reciprocating movement thus imparted to the carriage ismanifestly timed as to speed and intervals of movement to the operation of the machine as a whole, so that at the proper instant the carriage moves forward carrying the boxes successively into the path of the plunger head 5 of the wrapper applying mechanism.

It will be observed that by reason of the pivotal connection between the connecting plate 16 and the bracket extension 15, that a certain degree of flexibility is introduced-between the chain 20 and thetransfer carriage, Thus as in Figure 3, should for any reason the forward movement of the carriage toward the box be momentarily obstructed or resisted the shock would be taken up by the flexing of the connection at the pivot pin 18 to the extent permitted by the pin and slot connection at 19. However, to normally prevent the flexing at this point, a relatively stifi' coil spring 24 connects the inner end of the plate 16 with the carriage proper at a point immediately forward on the arm 121;, pins 24a, 2%, being mounted at these points to which the ends of the spring are connected.

To complete the transfer carriage, a gripping device is mounted thereon'to coact with the pusher bar 13 in icking up the boxes as they are transferre from the belt. This gripper device consists of a rock shaft 25 extending crosswise of the bracket 12 just above the inclined portions of the arms 12a, 12a, and journalled at the outer ends of a pair of spaced bearing arms 26, 26 projecting forwardly from the central portion of said bracket and secured to the under side thereof. Fixed to the rock shaft is a pair of gripper fingers 27, 27, each being located opposite and just forwardly of one of the arms 12a of the bracket. At the end of the rock shaft adjacent the sprocket chain is fixed a cam lever 28 having a roller 28a at its end, said lever projecting at substantiall the same radial direction from the axis 0 the rock shaft as the gripper-fingers 27. Immediately below the cam lever 28 is a cam 29 consisting of a flat metal bar extending crosswise of the outer edge of the belt 1, and a short distance above it. This bar is bent downwardly near its free end to provide an inclined portion beyond the higher horizontal portion disposed inwardly from the end. The cam roller 28a bears upon-the top face of this stationary cam lever in the movement of the transfer carriage to and from its starting position to the right of the belt 1 as shown in Figure 3. Thus when the cam lever is in contact with the elevated portion of the cam 29the gripper fingers are swung outwardly and forwardly almost 1n a horizontal position as shown in Figure 4, and against the tension of a coil spring 30 which is attached at one end to a pin 3011 projecting downwardly from the center of the rock shaft and secured at its other end at 306 on the under side of the bracket 12.

As already stated, the drive for the transfer carriage is through the sprocket pinion 21, and thence from the chain 20 to the carriage. Now, the drive to the sprocket pinion 21 will be described: Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a vertical shaft 31-located well to the left and rear of the end of the belt 1 is driven continuously from the machine and carries a cylindric box. cam 32. Riding in the slot 32a of the cam is cam roller. 33 journalled on a cam follower 34 in the form of ablock fixed to the rear end portion of a vertically sliding plate 35 having an arm 35a extending forwardly to a P011113 opposite the sprocket pin-' ion 21, and some distance above it where it is connected with: the upper end of a vertical teeth along the inner vertical edge of the rack bar 37 mesh with a pinion 39 mountedon a stub shaft 40 supported on the frame memher 8, and just behind the pinion is a gear sector 41 turning therewith. The gear sector 41in turn meshes with a pinion 42 j ournalled on the same stub shaft 21a with the sprocket pinion 21, and directly connected therewith. Thus the reciprocating motion imparted to the cam follower 34 through the box cam 32 on the shaft 31 is successively transmitted through the intermediate rack 37, pinion 39, and sector 41 to the sprocket 21 which rotates in alternate opposite directions to give the transfer carriage its reciprocating movement.

Now, assuming that the belt 1 is advancing the assembled boxes A and sheets B forward with an intermittent movement, they are successively brought to rest opposite the transfer carriage just preceding its forward stroke. To aid in bringing the boxes to rest in their proper position in front of the carriage, a blade 43 projects over the belt in the path of the boxes just forwardly of the cam bar 29. Thus when the boxes come into contact with the blade 43, they are momentarily brought to rest as the transfer carriage starts forward with the pusher plate 13 coming into contact with the side wall of the box, moving the same laterally as shown in Figure 4. At the commencement of the forward stroke the gripper fingers are held in forwardly extended position by the cam lever 28 in contact with the elevated portion of the cam bar 29. After the movement has started, however, the cam lever 28 is depressed as the roller 28a travels along the downwardly inclined end portion of the cam bar and finally leaves it entirely, whereupon the gripper fingers swing into contact with the inside of the box A holding it securely against the pusher plate 13 as shown in Figure 5. Inasmuch as the travel of the transfer carriage is along an upwardly inclined path, the box is lifted or picked up from the surface of the belt and carried to the end of the tract where it is brought into the path of the descending plunger head 5 which enters the box and carries it downwardly and out of the grip of the fingers 27 and plate 13 and into the zone of the wiping brushes below, the action of which is being omitted for reasons heretofore set forth.

Thus having released the box, the transfer carriage is retracted to its starting position and the same operation is repeated as the next box is brought into position, and so on. The movements of the coacting parts are necessarily timed so that all events occur in their proper sequence and at a speed consistent with an eflicient and economical rate of production.

Thus it will be seen that the machine as a Whole becomes entirely automatic in its operation, except for the spotting of the boxes on the covering sheets as they travel forwardly on the feed belt, thereby increasing the speed at which the machine may be operated, and improving the quality of the work done due to the elimination of the combined manual operation of spotting and transferring the boxes from the belt to the cover applying mechanism, which, regardless of the operators skill, is necessarily slower and less productive of perfect workmanship than an automatic machine operation.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a box wrapping machine, the combination of a feed belt upon which the covering sheets and boxes are assembled, wrapperapplying mechanism adjacent said belt and including a vertically reciprocating plunger head, and means for transferring said assembled boxes from said belt to said wrapperapplying mechanism comprising a reciprocating carriage having gripping devices operative to engage said box during its transfer from said belt.

2. In a box wrapping machine, the combination of a feed belt upon which the covering sheets and boxes are assembled, wrapperapplying mechanism adjacent said belt and including a vertically reciprocating plunger head, and means for transferring said assembled boxes from said belt to said wrapperapplying mechanism, comprising a reciproeating carriage moving transversely of said belt and having gripping members operative in the advance movement of said carriage to engage and pick up said boxes from said belt.

' 3. In a box Wrapping machine, the combination of a feed belt upon which the covering sheets and boxes are assembled, wrapperapplying mechanism adjacent said belt and including a vertically reciprocating plunger head, and means for transferring said assembled boxes from said belt to said wrapperapplying mechanism comprising a reciprocating carriage moving in an upwardly inclined path transversely above said belt, and having a member adapted for contact with an upright wall of said boxes, and relatively movable gripper members operative during the advance movement of said carriage to clamp said box wall against said contact member.

4.'Ina box Wrapping machine, the combination of means for continuously feeding boxes with flat covering sheets applied to their bottoms toward wrapper-applying mechanism located adjacent the path of said boxes, of a reciprocating transfer carriage moving transversely of the path of said boxes, and including automatically actuated grippers operative to pick up said boxes.

5. In a box wrapping machine, the com bination of means for feeding boxes with flat covering sheets applied to their bottoms toward wrapper-applying mechanism 10- cated adjacent the path of said boxes, of a said boxes during the forward movement of said carriage and coacting cam members for shifting said grippers into box releasing position at the end of the return movement of said carriage.

6. In a box wrapping machine, the combination of means for feeding boxes with flat covering sheets applied to their bottoms toward wrapper-applying mechanism located adjacent the path of said boxes, a reciprocating carriage moving to and from said wrapper-applying mechanism crosswise of the path of said boxes and comprising a vertical pusher plate, a rock shaft, gripper fingers mounted on said rock shaft and adapted to swing toward and from said pusher plate and coacting cam members for rocking said shaft to engage a wall of said boxes between said plate and gripper fingers during the forward movement of said carriage.

7. In a box wrapping machine, the combination of a feed belt adapted to advance boxes superimposed upon fiat cover sheets, wrapper-applying mechanism located adjacent one side of said belt, a transfer carriage slidably mounted for reciprocating movement to and from said wrapper-applying mechanism and transversely above said belt, said carriage comprising a bracket, a pusher plate and movable gripper fingers mounted on said bracket, a fixed cam member mounted adjacent the path of said carriage and a cam follower operatively connected with said gripper fingers, for actuating the same to grip a wall of each box at the commencement of each forward stroke of said carriage.

8. In a box wrapping machine. the combination of a feed belt adapted to advance boxes superimposed upon flat cover sheets, wrapper-applying mechanism located adjacent one side of said belt, a transfer carriage slidably mounted for reciprocating movement to and from said wrapper-applying mechanism and transversely above said belt, means mounted on said carriage for gripping a wall of each box, means for guiding said carriage to lift said boxes from said belt. and means for imparting a reciprocating movement to said carriage.

9. In a box coating machine, the combination of a feed belt for feeding boxes with flat wrappers applied to their bottoms toward wrapper-applying mechanism located adjacent said belt, an inclined track extending above and transversely of said belt opposite said wrapper-applyingmechanism, acarriage slidably mounted on said track, means for imparting a reciprocating movement to said carriage, grippers carried by said carriage and cam operated means for actuating said grippers to engage said boxes during the forward movement of said carriage and to re tract the same during the return movement thereof.

10. In a box wrapping machine, the combination of a feed belt adapted to advance boxes superimposed upon fiat sheets wrapper-applying mechanism located adjacent one side of said belt, a transfer carriage mounted for reciprocating movement to and ing the same to grip a-wall of each box at the commencement of each forward stroke of said carria e. r

11. In a ox Wrapping machine, the combination of a feed belt adapted to advance boxes superimposed upon flat wrapper sheets, Wrapper-applying mechanism located adjacent one side of said belt, a transfer carriage slidably mounted for reciprocating movement to and from said wrapper-applying mechanism and in an inclined path above said belt, means mounted on said carriage for gripping said boxes whereby each of the same is lifted from said belt during the forward movement of said carriage, and means for imparting a reciprocating movement to said carriage, including a sprocket chain extending parallel with the path of said carriage, and connected therewith, sprocket pinions supporting said chain and means for rotating one of said pinions in alternately opposite directions.

Ill., this 22nd day of Signed at (lhicago, May, 1930,

HERBERT J. MELVILLE. 

